Page 3 of Uncharted

“Nice try, Sassy.”

Calvin drops the bass on Dante’s new work surface. It’s waist-high with a slab of worn, smooth lava rock on top. “Holy shit, that’s a beauty.” Dante slaps Calvin on his back.

“You got it? I’ve got some punishment to pass out.” Calvin slaps Dante back.

“If I say no, do I get to help with the punishment?”

“No.” Calvin laughs. “I need Rockwell for this.”

Did Dante just wink at Calvin? I gulp.

Chapter2

Giving Chase

Easton

“Which way are we going?” I nod at Calvin.

“You’re taking his side on this?” Haley crosses her arms over her fabulous tits. She’s playing it up. But she’s not mad. I’m betting if I was to pull down her leggings right now, she’d be wetter than the ocean. I give her a wink, and I swear she blushes. She’s playing right along.

“Rockwell’s a lot of things, but he’s not dumb, Haley.”

“No, no, I’m not.” My throat tightens. Calvin giving me even an offhanded compliment is odd. He’s up to something, that’s for sure.

“You’re giving up your positions tonight,” Dante yells over his shoulder. He’s cut open tonight’s dinner with the precision of a surgeon.

“Done.” Calvin handles the negotiations without consulting me. “It’s going to be worth it.” We’ve been doing a rotation of who gets to sleep next to Haley. Who gets to have some one-on-one time with her next. After the waterfall, when we decided to move inland and away from the raft, it was like a dam burst. We all wanted Haley all the time. For her own preservation, we had to come up with a system.

“You’re going to let me walk.” Haley’s eyes are wide. She might complain when Calvin throws her over his shoulder, but she told me in confidence last week she really likes it. But being the caveman is his thing. We’ve all got our own thing. Dante’s the comic relief. Zane’s the tenderhearted one. Or at least he was. Cal’s the brute, and I’m... well, I don’t know how I fit in. I know I do fit in. What’s my role? I have no idea.

A few days ago, I found myself sitting around the campfire smiling. I’m happier here than I’ve ever been. It’s weird. This place is dangerous as hell, but it’s so much better than anywhere else. There’s no four a.m. practices. But there are middle-of-night checks of the fish weir. There’s no board meeting, but there is gathering boards for the shelter. No junk food, pasta or gourmet coffee, but there is Haley. And that’s enough. More than enough. She has a way of making us all feel like we’re the most important, that without us, our whole group would fall apart.

Calvin sweeps Haley off her feet and tosses her over his shoulder. “Calvin Green.” She slaps at his ass. But that only makes him laugh. “Yes, my chief stew. How can I help you?” His tone is deep, and I wonder if he’s got a plan, and if he does, if he’s going to keep me in the dark too.

I’m also wondering why in the hell he didn’t ask one of the other guys. Things between us all have settled down into a rhythm after the waterfall. But do I actually think Green and I are going to be best buds? Fuck no. Then again, Dante was making dinner, and Zane is crazy with the shelter. If his plan takes three, I’m the only one around to do it. Why in the world wouldn’t he want to be alone with Haley? I’m walking shoulder to shoulder with him, contemplating snatching her from his grasp and taking her for myself. “Are you doing okay there?” I cock my head sideways and give Haley a smile.

“I’m getting used to the blood pooling in my ears.” She gives a quick giggle and grabs Calvin around the waist. It stops her from swinging side to side.

We’re at the waterfall before you know it.

“You ready to get down, Chiefie?”

“Yes, Green.”

He grunts and sets her down on the large smooth rock next to the waterfall. Chiefie? She doesn’t notice or doesn’t mind it. Her arms wind around Calvin’s neck. She gives him a quick peck and then zips away. “You didn’t think this was going to be that easy.” She tears up the path that parallels the stream, laughing and giggling. Stealth isn’t in any way her worry.

Neither Calvin nor I move—I’m stunned. Calvin’s hand lands on my arm. “Give her a head start, Rockwell, or the fun will be over too soon.”

“This was your big punishment plan?” I cock an eyebrow at him.

“No, but it certainly adds to it.” He takes a few steps, and from behind a rock near the waterfall, he takes a small coconut wrapped in a piece of the plastic from the kit on the raft.

“What’s that?” My brow furrows, and my eyes flick to the path Haley ran down.

“She’s not going to go far. Are you scared your Olympic ass can’t track Haley running through the jungle, leaving a trail a toddler could follow? Look.” He hands me the plastic package.

I unwrap it. The coconut is cracked in half. I pull it apart. There’s a slurry of oil and paste in the bottom half of the coconut. I look up at him. I’m missing something. “Oh, fuck.” The light pops on.

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